Ballroom Dancing History
Dancing in one form or another existed since the beginning of human society. It is a part of what we are. In many ancient cultures it was connected with rituals and ceremonials. Today, we mostly dance out of enjoyment, simply because it’s fun and it makes us feel good. In this article we’ll focus on the history of ballroom dance.
It all started in the courts of 18th and 19th century Europe. The elite and upper classes of society were looking for entertainment and they found it in ballrooms. Ballroom simply means a room where ball – a social event at which the main activity is dancing – is held. The word “ball” comes from the Latin word “ballare”, meaning to dance.
Before people had television and radio to entertain them, balls were very important. Fun-wise and socially. At the beginning of 20th century they become very popular with everyday people, not just the elite. In 1904, the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing was formed in order to standardize and formalize ballroom dancing techniques.
Today, ballroom dance refers to partner dances that are danced both socially and competitively. The moves in modern ballroom have in many ways been standardized.
Ballroom dances can be broken down into two basic styles. One is the American style (American Smooth and American Rhythm) and the other is the International style. You probably guessed that American style arose in the US and Canada. International style is further divided into Standard and Latin. American and International styles are similar, but International allows only closed dance positions.
Let’s take a look at International Standard and International Latin dances. Standard are Waltz, Foxtot, Viennese Waltz, Tango, and QuickStep. Latin group includes Cha-Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, Samba and Jive. They are different in terms of rhythm, techniques and music, but all of the above are partner dances.
Today, ballroom dancing in all its forms enjoys wide popularity throughout the world. No wonder – it’s elegant, it’s sociable, it’s fun. And it’s here to stay.
Learning ballroom dance is not so difficult, especially if you have the right instructions. See, for example, how to jive or how to dance waltz.